Services in a communication system

ABSTRACT

A user device ( 20 ) is provided with information relating to a service wherein content is communicated to the user device via an access system provided by a communications network ( 22 ). In the method information regarding access charges from a charging entity ( 26 ) associated with the access system is provided to a service provider entity ( 24 ), where after an indication of total cost of the service covering content charges and the access charges is sent from the service provider entity to the user device. Alternatively, indication of the total costs can be sent directly to the user device from the charging entity.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to services offered to end-users of acommunication system, and more particularly, to services wherein contentis delivered to user devices of the end-users.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A communication system is a facility which enables communication betweentwo or more entities such as user terminal equipment (mobile or fixed)or other communication devices and/or network entities and other nodesassociated with a communication system. The communication may comprise,for example, communication of voice, electronic mail (email), textmessages, data, multimedia and so on. A communications system may alsobe used for providing users with services, typically for communicationbetween users and service providers and for delivery of content data tothe user devices. The content data delivery typically includesdownloading of data from a remote node, such as a service provideserver, via an access system of the communications system.

A communication system typically operates in accordance with a givenstandard or with a given set of specifications which set out what thevarious elements of a system are permitted to do and how that should beachieved. For example, the standard or specification may define if theuser, or more precisely user equipment, is provided with access via acircuit switched bearer or a packet switched bearer, or both.Communication protocols and/or parameters which should be used for theaccess to the communication system are also typically defined. Forexample, the manner in which communication should be implemented betweenthe user equipment and the elements of the communication networks istypically based on a predefined communication protocol. In other words,a specific set of “rules” on which the communication can be based needsto be defined to enable the user equipment to communicate via thecommunication system.

Access for a user device to the communication system may be provided bya fixed line and/or wireless communication interface. An example ofcommunication systems providing wireless access are public land mobilenetworks (PLMN). In a more detailed example the end-user may access theservice via a GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) or another cellularwireless access system operated by a telephone operator. Other examplespf possible wireless access systems include various wireless local areanetworks (WLANs) and satellite based systems. Examples of communicationsystems providing fixed line access include public switched telephonenetworks (PSTN), cable networks, digital subscriber line (DSL) networks,and so on.

Content services can be provided by third party service providers(TPSP). The end-users can be subscribers of an operator, for example afixed line operator or a mobile operator (MO), and commonly use anaccess network of a telecommunications system operator to contact thethird party service provider's service portal. When a third partyservice provider (TPSP) provides a service to an end-user, it may needto indicate the price of the service to the end-user. The total cost ofthe service may need to be presented, for example, for customer servicereasons. In some countries the cost may need to be indicated for legalreasons.

The third party service provider typically knows the price of thecontent which it delivers. However, if for example a downloadable gameor other considerable data volume is delivered, the end-user may alsoneed to pay for the access costs. The problem is that the third partyservice provider does not necessarily know what will the access chargesbe. For example, the third party service provider may not be aware ofthe access charges for a particular content download.

Arrangements wherein a charging interface is provided between a thirdparty service provider (TPSP) and a mobile operator (MO) have beenproposed. In a scenario a TPSP may use a charging interface to requestcharging information from the mobile operator whose subscriber theend-user is. However, the charging interface has not been designed forprovision of information to the end-user relating to the total cost of aparticular content download and it's delivery, for example via a GPRSaccess system. Instead, the cost that has typically been indicated tothe end-user is the price of the content itself with a vague referenceto additional access charges that may apply. This may not enable theend-user to get any realistic indication of the likely total costs,unless he or she is able to convert the volume of the content to bedownloaded to the access charge costs applicable at that specific time.This may not satisfy legislative requirement of some countries where itmight be required that the end-user must be given a substantiallyaccurate indication of the total cost of the service.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an embodiment there is provided a method forproviding a user device with information relating to a service whereincontent associated with a service provided by a service provider iscommunicated to the user device via an access system provided by acommunications network. In the method information regarding accesscharges of the access system is generated. Said information regardingaccess charges of the access system is then communicated together withcontent charges of the service provider to the user device.

Another embodiment provides a charging server comprising means forgenerating information regarding access charges of an access system of acommunication network when content that is associated with a serviceprovided by a service provider is communicated to a user device via theaccess system, and an interface for sending said information regardingaccess charges of the access system for communication together withcontent charges of the service provider to the user device.

Another embodiment provides a service provider entity, comprising aninterface for receiving information from a charging entity associatedwith an access system of a communication network relating to costs ofthe access system for communication of content that is associated with aservice provided by the service provider entity to a user device via theaccess system, and means for sending information regarding accesscharges of the access system for communication together with contentcharges of the service provider to the user device.

The embodiments of the invention may provide an advantage in that makingit easier for the end-users to make decisions on whether to buy aservice or not. The embodiments may enable providing the user with anindication of the total service costs. Such an indication may make theavailable services more attractive for end-users. Charging servicesoffered by the operators may also become more attractive for third partyservice providers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention and how the same maybe carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of exampleonly to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a communications system wherein theinvention may be embodied;

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart for operation in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram in accordance with an embodiment theinvention.

FIG. 4 shows signalling flows in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart for operation in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart for operation in accordance with a furtherembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

To assist in understanding the invention, an explanation of a possibleunderlying communication system is given first with reference toelements of a cellular mobile communication network as defined by thethird generation partnership project (3GPP). It is noted that althoughcertain embodiments will now be described by way of example, withreference to the exemplifying architectures of a communication systemcomprising 3GPP mobile access networks and/or wireless local areanetworks, embodiments may be applied to any other suitable forms ofcommunication systems than those illustrated and described herein.

A user device of an end-user may communicate data in association withvarious services based on an appropriate data communication protocol. InFIG. 1 the services available for mobile user devices 20 (only one shownfor clarity) are provided by a service provider portal 24. The portalmay be provided by a server or any other appropriate data processingdevice capable of communicating with user devices. The services may beprovided, for example, by means of the Internet Protocol (IP), and thusthe portal 24 can be understood as, for example, denoting an InternetProtocol (IP) based device.

A mobile communication system 22 is typically arranged to serve aplurality of mobile user devices which have accessed wirelessly theaccess system. A core network part of the communication system istypically connected to a number of access networks, typically to basestation systems. The base stations are arranged to transmit signals toand receive signals from a mobile user equipment, via respectivewireless interfaces. Correspondingly, each mobile device is able totransmit signals to and receive signals from the base stations via thewireless interface. In a typical operation a mobile communicationnetwork provides packet switched data transmission in the packetswitched domain between a support node and mobile user equipment via theaccess system.

A non-limiting example of a possible mobile network is the 3rdgeneration cellular network wherein a mobile user device may connect toan access network by setting up a PDP (Packet Data Protocol) contextthrough a GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) network. The GPRS serviceallows transmission of packet data between mobile communication devicesand external data networks. In this case the mobile network 22 would beconnected to external data networks, for example the Internet, via agateway GPRS support node (GGSN). Each PDP context provides acommunication pathway between a particular user and a gateway node ofthe network. Once the PDP context is established, it can typically carrymultiple flows. Each flow normally represents, for example, a particularservice and/or media component of a particular service. The PDP contexttherefore often represents a logical communication pathway for one ormore flows across the network. To implement the PDP context between userequipment and a node, radio access bearers need to be established whichcommonly allow for data transfer for the user equipment. Another optionto wirelessly access services is to set up an IPsec tunnel through aWLAN network that is then connected to a core communication network.

A mobile communication device within an access network may communicatewith a radio network controller via radio network channels which aretypically referred to as radio bearers. Each mobile device such as amobile user equipment may have one or more radio channels open at anyone time with the radio network controller. Any appropriate mobiledevice adapted for Internet protocol (IP) communication maybe used toconnect to the network. For example, a user may access the cellularnetwork by means of communication devices such as a personal computer,personal data assistant (PDA), mobile station (MS), portable computer,combinations thereof or the like.

The mobile communication device can be used for various tasks such asmaking and receiving phone calls, for receiving and sending data fromand to a network and for experiencing, for example, multimedia or othercontent. The communication device is typically provided with a processorand memory for accomplishing these tasks. The operation of the userequipment may be controlled by means of a suitable user interface suchas key pad, voice commands, touch sensitive screen or pad, combinationsthereof or the like.

The following describes an exemplifying embodiment for charging ofservices provided by third party service providers utilizing bearerservices offered by a mobile operator. The example is described withreference to FIG. 1 wherein an end-user using a mobile terminal (MT) 20is a subscriber to a mobile operator (MO) operating network 22. Theend-user may request for services provided by a third party serviceprovider (TPSP) portal 24.

Use of the services can be charged by the third party service providerby sending of charging requests to a charging server 26 hosting theend-user charging account. The mobile operator (MO) may be responsiblefor the operation of the communications network 22 and the chargingserver 26. The charging server 26 may be based on an existing chargingserver of an operator. In such case the server and/or systemfunctionality thereof may need to be updated to support the newfunctionalities required by the embodiment.

An online charging web service interface 30 is provided between thethird party service provider portal 24 and charging server 26. Thecharging interface may be provided by an external data network, for anInternet Protocol based network and/or via the communications network22. The online charging interface 30 supports communication ofindications associated with the costs of services. The third partyservice provider portal 24 may use the charging interface 30 to chargevia operator based billing the end-users for the services the end-usersare using. The online charging interface 30 can be used to indicate thecharges that are applicable to a service provided to user devices in anaccess system associted with the charging server. This is an importantimprovement on the prior art charging interfaces which have not beenused for consideration how access charges, in addition to the contentprice, that relate to delivery of the content can be reported to theTPSP in order to provided the end-user with an indication of the totalcost of the content download.

A database 28 is also provided for storing information needed to resolvethe access changes for a specific service. The database may be hosted bythe mobile operator, or any other appropriate party. The database 28 maybe integrated with the server 26, or the server may be provided with anaccess thereto.

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart for operation in accordance with an embodiment.In the embodiment a user of a user device is provided with informationrelating to the cost of using a service before he/she makes a definitivedecision whether to order the service. In FIG. 2 embodiment the serviceprovider first sends a request for information about access charges to acharging entity associated with an access network of a communicationsystem at step 100. This is not always necessary, and information aboutthe access charges may also be provided to the service provider entitywithout a specific request, for example periodically. Informationregarding access charges is communicated in step 102 from the chargingentity to the service provider entity. Communication between theentities may occur via the interface 30 of FIG. 1.

When generating the information, the charging entity may fetch relevantinformation from a database. The service provider entity may thengenerate an appropriate indication of total cost of the service coveringcontent charges and the access charges, and send the indication to theuser device at step 104. This communication may occur via thecommunication network 22.

The cost may then be displayed to the user, step 106. This preferablyoccurs before the service is taken into use at the user device, i.e.before the user has decided if he/she wants to use the service. The costcan be presented for the end-user only for information, and the serviceprovision is continued automatically, step 108. Alternatively, the enduser may be asked to accept the cost, see step 110. In the latter case,if the cost are acceptable at step 112, the user may order the serviceby sending his acceptance, step 116. If the costs are not acceptable,the user does not respond at all, or sends a denial, and may not becharged, step 114.

There are various ways to support the providing of indications regardingthe access charges from the content that is to be downloaded, if theservice is ordered. According to a possibility the service provider 24may request information regarding the access charges via the on-linecharging interface 30. The charging web service provided by server 26supports the relevant service interface and charging serverfunctionality. The service interface is on the operator side of theconnection, i.e. the charging interface is controlled by the operator.The TPSP can be seen as the client of the charging service. The charginginterface can be used for all exchange of charging information betweenthe service provider and the charging entity of the operator.

The signalling flow of FIG. 3 shows operation in accordance with thisembodiment in more detail. In the flow chart the solid lines presentfunctionalities that are required by this embodiment and dashed linesdescribe functionalities that may be needed to support the particularcommunication environment, but are not necessary. Dotted lines are forinformation purposes only.

The end-user requests for a service, for example a game or othercontent, from a service provider by message 1. Optional messages 2 and 3may be signalled for discovery of a charging web service interface (WSI)service, for example by using a functionality provided by the ProjectLiberty Alliance. A request 4 containing information about the serviceand the end-user is then sent from the service provider to the operator.Request 4 may contain information regarding the end-user, the requestedservice, volume of the content, the access bearer and so on. Thismessage may also include various other parameters, such as informationregarding rates, credit reservations, credit deductions, credit checks,charging method and so on. The charging system can be made aware of whataccess bearer the terminal is using based on a service identifier or acorrelation-identifier in the request that is received by the chargingsystem. This can be, for example, a user identity or a dynamicallydefined service identity that is defined when the access is initiated.

The operator owned charging entity may then resolve at step 5 the costsof the access charges based on the received information and informationstored in a database. At step 6 the charging entity may debit funds bothfor content and access charges from an end-user account, make arespective reservation or reservation on a user account. or take anyother required action required for the actual charging.

A response message 7 may contain information regarding granted chargingunits and a specific field or parameter for indicating either the totalconst or at least the access charges for the service. The onlinecharging interface mechanism can include to the response message theaccess charges that the service provider server can then add to theprice of the content. According to an alternative the response cancontain the total charges of the service, for example if the service isalso rated by the operator.

The total charges or the access charge only caused by the download arethen indicated to the service provider by message 7. The serviceprovider may then indicate the price to the end-user by message 8.

In accordance with a possibility, in case the operator is also ratingcharge of the content, the mobile operator can indicate the costs of theservice directly to the end-user through appropriate channels.

The end-user may then confirm that he/she is willing to use the serviceby message 9. The service is delivered by signalling 10. Aftercompletion of the service delivery the success thereof may be indicatedto the TPSP by signalling 11.

In case of the first request towards the operators charginginfrastructure only made a reservation of charging units, the reservedunits can be committed in response to message 12.

According to another possibility the service provide is provided with adatabase that contains access charge rates for all its customers. Thismay be a more complicated to provide, because the service providers donot commonly define themselves what the access charges are. Thus even inthis alternative the service provider needs to request information fromthe operator of the end-user. The end-user may also have differenttariffs for the access charges depending the time of the day, so theservice provider may need frequently update the information.

Further exemplifying embodiments will now be described with reference toFIGS. 4 to 6. In these embodiments a user device 20 is involved, atleast to a degree, in generation of the total charge information. Theinvolvement of the user device 20 may be provided in various ways. Forexample, the user device may be made aware of the access chargesincurred for data traffic. This information may come from the accessnetwork 22. The access charge information available at the user device20 may then be utilised either at the user device or at an appropriateentity at the network side when calculating the total charge.

A possible way to provide the communication interfaces of FIG. 4 is touse an HTTP/XML (Hypertext Transport Protocol/eXtensible MarkupLanguage)-based Web Services interface towards the operator network anda similar interface towards the content provider. It is also possible tosimply use HTTP-headers for the communication.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5 the user device 20 is provided withinformation regarding the access charges at step 200 and informationregarding the content charges at 202, where after the user device itselfmay calculate at 204 the total charge. This scenario enables operationwherein no action is required from the content provider, or anotherentity at the network side.

In accordance wit ha specific example, the user device may useappropriate data, for example metadata such as information contained inJAD-files of Java 2 Platform Micro Edition (JME2) to calculate the priceof the transmission. JME2 is a Java application environment providing aframework for the deployment and use of Java technology. A JAD file is aJava Application Descriptor file that contains information about a JavaArchive Repository (JAR) file. A JAD file contains the name, file size,and version of the actual JAR content file. This information may then bedisplayed or otherwise reported to the user at 206, preferably beforethe user accepts the download. The user device may be configured to waituntil it receives an indication of acceptance of the total cost of theservice, for example an activation of a predefined key or menu option.The request for the service may then be transmitted in response to saidindication.

In an another embodiment shown in FIG. 6 a user device is provided withaccess charge information at step 300. The user device may then reportthe access charge information at 302 to the content provider or anotherappropriate entity at the network. The information from the user devicemay then be used at the network side at 304 in calculating the totalcharge. The full, complete purchase price may then be reported at 306 tothe user device based on at least partially information originating fromthe user device at step 302. The total cost may then be presented to theuser at 308.

In a further embodiment the content provider may be able to dynamicallyadjust the price of the content based on the subscriber's trafficcharges. For example, to be able to offer uniform pricing for all users,those with flat-rate data subscriptions may be charged relatively morecompared to those with high data traffic costs. The perceived end-userprice would stay the same. Communications to the operator may be enabledfor example for the purposes of traffic compensation negotiations orother arrangements.

On the operator-side, an interface may be provided for queries from userdevices regarding the prices for packet data traffic. The interface maybe positioned at a charging server or similar charging element of thenetwork. On the content provider side, the server 24 may be adapted tointerpret pricing information provided in various formats. Theinformation can be provided, for example, in the form of an XML-requestor can be supplied in the content request HTTP-headers and so on.

The overall high-level message flow of FIG. 4 may be as follows. Theuser device 20 may send at 15 a request to the operator querying thecurrent data charging rate. The charging rate can be given, for example,per Megabyte. An appropriate network node 22, for example a chargingserver, then responds at 16 with the current data-charging rate. Theuser device may then request at 17 for a service or content from acontent provider 24. The user device includes information regarding thecurrent data charging rate in the request. The content provider may thencalculate the total content price, and reply at 18 with the total chargefor the content.

Steps 15 and 16 may be performed periodically, for example as once a dayor a week. The results can be cached in the memory of the user device.The operator core network may also push the charging rate information tothe user device periodically, and/or advice the user device to updatethe rate information when the rates change.

According to a further embodiment the content provider and the accessnetwork operator may interact and automatically agree on variousfeatures, for example on possible discounts to the packet data trafficrates. The content provider may, for example, sponsor the trafficcharges for some user segments.

Embodiments may be made independent of the actual payment mechanism thatis used to pay for the content. Some of the embodiments may allow anon-affiliated content provider to offer a service with a known totalprice without relationships with the network operator.

The required data processing functions may be provided by means of oneor more data processors. Appropriately adapted computer program codeproduct may be used for implementing the embodiments, when loaded to acomputer, for example a processor of the communication device and/or anyof the other nodes associated with the operation. The program code meansmay, for example, perform the generation of messages and/or informationelements, interpretation and so forth. The program code product forproviding the operation may be stored on and provided by means of acarrier medium such as a carrier disc, card or tape. A possibility is todownload the program code product via a data network. The required dataprocessing functionalities of the user device 20 may be embedded in, forexample, a browser or an appropriate content discovery client 21 of theuser device. A mechanism for providing an advice of the charges for theend user may be provided at the user device and/or at the contentprovider.

The herein described embodiments enable an end user to have a singleprice for a service inclusing access charges and content charges. Thisinformation can be provided for a user before he/she decides to use theservice. The total costs or the rate of a service can be also presentedduring service provision session, for example after a rate of a videostreaming service changes, or a certain predefined cost has beenexceeded.

It is noted that whilst embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed in relation to communication devices such as mobile stations,embodiments of the present invention are applicable to any othersuitable type of devices suitable for communication via a communicationsnetwork.

It is also noted that although the above example relates arequest-response model, the services may be pushed to user devices. Forexample, a service provider server may detect based on a database or itssettings that a communication device is present in an access network,and that it may wish to use a service. In this model a specific requestby the end-user may not be necessary.

It is noted that even though the exemplifying embodiments shown anddescribed in this disclosure use the terminology of the 3^(rd)generation (3G) WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) networks,such as UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), CDMA2000systems and wireless local area networks, embodiments of the proposedsolution can be used in any communication system wherein advantage maybe obtained by means of the embodiments of the invention, fort examplefor providing an access system for an IPsec tunnel.

It is also noted herein that while the above describes exemplifyingembodiments of the invention, there are several variations andmodifications which may be made to the disclosed solution withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention as defined in theappended claims.

1. A method for providing a user device with information relating to aservice, wherein content associated with a service provided by a serviceprovider is communicated to the user device via an access systemprovided by a communications network, said method comprising: generatinginformation regarding access charges of the access system; andcommunicating said information regarding access charges of the accesssystem together with content charges of the service provider to the userdevice.
 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step ofcommunicating comprises sending an indication of total cost of theservice including content charges and the access charges to the userdevice.
 3. A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising the step ofsending said information regarding access charges from a charging entityassociated with the access system to a service provider entity, whereinthe step of communicating comprises sending an indication of total costof the service including content charges and the access charges from theservice provider entity to the user device.
 4. A method as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the step of communicating comprises sending anindication of total cost of the service including content charges andthe access charges from a charging entity associated with the accesssystem to the user device.
 5. A method as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe step of communicating occurs before the service is taken into use atthe user device.
 6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step ofcommunicating occurs during use of the service.
 7. A method as claimedin claim 3, further comprising sending from the service provider entityto the charging entity information identifying the service and the userdevice.
 8. A method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising sendingfrom the service provider entity to the charging entity a messagecontaining information regarding at least any one of the user device,the service, volume of content to be communicated, and a data bearerbetween the user device and the access network.
 9. A method as claimedin claim 1, further comprising the steps of sending a request for theservice from the user device to a service provider entity; discoveringan appropriate charging entity in response to receiving the request forthe service at the service provider entity; and sending from the serviceprovider entity to the discovered charging entity informationidentifying the service and the user device.
 10. A method as claimed inclaim 1, further comprising resolving access charges associated with useof resources of the access system at a charging entity based oninformation associated with the service and the user device as receivedfrom a service provider entity and information from a database.
 11. Amethod as claimed in claim 3, wherein the step of sending informationregarding access charges from the charging entity comprises sendingfurther information regarding other charges.
 12. A method as claimed inclaim 11, wherein said step of sending further information comprisessending information regarding total charges for the service.
 13. Amethod as claimed in claim 12, further comprising sending an acceptanceof the total cost from the user device.
 14. A method as claimed in claim1, comprising sending information regarding the access charges from theuser device.
 15. A method as claimed in claim 14, comprising receivinginformation regarding access charges at the user device prior the stepof sending the information regarding the access charges from the userdevice.
 16. A method as claimed in claim 15, comprising pushing rateinformation from the communications network to the user device.
 17. Amethod as claimed in claim 15, comprising sending periodically rateinformation from the communications network to the user device.
 18. Amethod as claimed in claim 15, comprising sending rate information fromthe communications network to the user device after a rate change.
 19. Amethod as claimed in claim 15, comprising sending a request for rateinformation from the user device to the communications network.
 20. Amethod as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of generating comprisesgenerating said information regarding the access charges at the userdevice.
 21. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step ofgenerating comprises generating said information regarding the accesscharges at the user device based on metadata.
 22. A method as claimed inclaim 1, comprising processing information received from the user deviceto obtain a total cost for of the service.
 23. A method as claimed inclaim 22, wherein the step of processing information comprisesprocessing, at an entity connected to the communications network,information regarding the access charges received from the user deviceand information regarding content charges to obtain the total cost forof the service.
 24. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the step ofprocessing information comprises dynamically adjusting the contentcharges based on information received from the user device.
 25. A methodas claimed in claim 1, comprising including by the user device theinformation regarding access charges into a request for the service. 26.A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user device comprises amobile device, and the access system comprises an access network of amobile communication network.
 27. A method as claimed in claim 3,comprising communication of data between the charging entity and theservice provider via a separate data network.
 28. A method as claimed inclaim 27, wherein the separate data network comprises an InternetProtocol network.
 29. A computer program comprising program code meansconfigured to perform the steps of claim 1 when the program is run on acomputer.
 30. A charging server for a communications network, saidcharging comprising: means for generating information regarding accesscharges of an access system of the communications network when contentthat is associated with a service provided by a service provider iscommunicated to a user device via the access system; and an interfacefor sending said information regarding access charges of the accesssystem for communication together with content charges of the serviceprovider to the user device.
 31. A charging server as claimed in claim30, wherein the interface is configured for communication of saidinformation regarding access charges of the access system to a serviceprovider entity.
 32. A charging server as claimed in claim 30, whereinthe means for generating information is configured to processinformation identifying the service and the user device.
 33. A chargingserver as claimed in claim 30, wherein the means for generatinginformation are configured to resolve access charges associated with useof resources of the access system at a charging entity based oninformation associated with the service and the user device andinformation from a database.
 34. A charging server as claimed in claim30, wherein the means for generating information are configured togenerate information regarding other charges.
 35. A charging server asclaimed in claim 34, wherein the means for generating information areconfigured to generate said information regarding total charges for theservice.
 36. A charging server as claimed in claim 35, wherein theinterface is for communication of said information regarding the totalcharges for the service to the user device.
 37. A charging server asclaimed in claim 30, wherein the interface is configured forcommunication of data via a data network.
 38. A charging server asclaimed in claim 37, wherein the data network comprises an InternetProtocol network.
 39. A charging server as claimed in claim 30, whereinthe means for generating are configured to generate the informationregarding the access chares based on information received from the userdevice.
 40. A service provider entity, comprising: an interface forreceiving information regarding access charges of the access system forcommunication of content that is associated with a service provided bythe service provider entity to a user device via an access system of acommunications network; and means for sending information regardingaccess charges of the access system for communication together withcontent charges of the service provider to the user device.
 41. Aservice provider entity as claimed in claim 40 being configured toreceive said information regarding access charges from a charging entityassociated with the access system of the communications network.
 42. Aservice provider entity as claimed in claim 41, configured to discoveran appropriate charging entity in response to receiving a request forthe service.
 43. A service provider entity as claimed in claim 42,configured to provide the discovered charging entity with informationidentifying the service and the user device.
 44. A service providerentity as claimed in claim 40 being configured to receive saidinformation regarding access charges from the user device.
 45. Acommunication system comprising at least one of a charging server inaccordance with claim 30 and a service provider entity, wherein theservice provider entity comprises: an interface for receivinginformation regarding access charges of the access system forcommunication of content that is associated with a service provided bythe service provider entity to a user device via the access system; andmeans for sending information regarding access charges of the accesssystem for communication together with content charges of the serviceprovider to the user device.
 46. A communications as claimed in claim45, wherein the service provider entity is configured to receive saidinformation regarding access charges from a charging entity associatedwith the access system of the communications network.
 47. Acommunications as claimed in claim 45, wherein the service providerentity is configured to receive said information regarding accesscharges from the user device.
 48. A method for providing charginginformation relating to a service provided by a service provider,wherein content associated with the service is communicated to the userdevice via an access system provided by a communications network, saidmethod comprising: providing the user device with information regardingaccess charges of the access system; providing the user device withinformation regarding content charges; and processing said informationregarding the access charges of the access system and said informationregarding the content charges in the user device to provide a totalcharge.
 49. A method as claimed in claim 48, further comprisingreceiving by the user device an indication of acceptance of the totalcost of the service; and sending a request for the service in responseto said indication.
 50. A method as claimed in claim 48, comprisingreceiving information regarding access charges at the user device.
 51. Amethod as claimed in claim 48, comprising pushing rate information fromthe communications network to the user device.
 52. A method as claimedin claim 48, comprising sending periodically rate information from thecommunications network to the user device.
 53. A method as claimed inclaim 48, comprising sending rate information from the communicationsnetwork to the user device after a rate change.
 54. A method as claimedin claim 48, comprising sending a request for rate information from theuser device to the communications network.
 55. A method as claimed inclaim 48, wherein the step of generating comprises generating saidinformation regarding the access charges at the user device.
 56. Amethod as claimed in claim 48, wherein the step of generating comprisesgenerating said information regarding the access charges at the userdevice based on metadata.
 57. A user device comprising: a receiver forreceiving content associated with a service via an access system of acommunications network; a controller configured to process informationregarding access charges of the access system and information regardingcontent charges to provide a total charge; and a user interface forpresenting the total charge.
 58. A user device as claimed in claim 57being configured to receive an indication of acceptance of the totalcost of the service, and to send a request for the service in responseto said indication.
 59. A user device as claimed in claim 57, whereinthe controller is configured to process information regarding accesscharges received from the communications network.
 60. A user device asclaimed in claim 57, wherein the controller is configured to generatesaid information regarding the access charges.
 61. A user device asclaimed in claim 60, wherein the controller is configured to generatesaid information regarding the access charges based on metadata.
 62. Auser device as claimed in claim 57, comprising a memory for storingaccess charge information.